Mom's Apple Pie

I could eat this pie every day. It is incredible. If you've never cooked your apple pie in a brown paper bag, you've got to give it a try. It cooks perfectly every time.

Mom's Apple Pie
5 cups granny smith apples, sliced thin
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Mix. Put in uncooked pie shell. Mix until crumbly:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter

Sprinkle over apples. Put pie pan in a large paper bag. Staple closed. Put on cookie sheet (to catch any drips) on a low rack. Bake at 350 degrees for exactly 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Nan's Biscuits

This recipe is from my grandma. She made these all the time and they were always a huge hit.

Nan's Biscuits
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup butter, cold and diced
1/2 cup sugar or honey
3/4 tsp. salt

Mix with your hands (or in a food processor) until crumbly. Add:
1 cup buttermilk

Roll out on floured board 1/2 - 3/4 inches thick. Cut into desired shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Apricot & Pine Nut Pilaf

This is the perfect side dish for so many things, and it's also great tossed in a salad. Pine nuts have been pretty expensive lately, so I've been making this sans pine nuts and it's still delicious.

Apricot & Pine Nut Pilaf
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup butter
2 cups long grain rice
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried apricots, chopped.

Brown pine nuts in butter. Remove. Add rice and saute 1 - 2 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add apricots and nuts and cook for 10 more minutes. Fluff with a fork just before serving.

Mom's Carrot Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting

Stacey really should be posting this. She is an excellent baker and cakes are her specialty.

I'll just go ahead and say that this is THE BEST carrot cake recipe out there. If you've never added crushed pineapple or coconut, trust me. They make the cake moist and delicious.

Mom's Carrot Cake
2 cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda

Mix dry ingredients and set aside.

3 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup oil
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups chopped nuts (optional...at least for those of us who are allergic to nuts)
2 cups grated carrots
1 small can pineapple, drained
1 cup coconut

Beat eggs. Add oil, buttermilk, sugar and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Mix in rest. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan or 2 8-9" rounds. Bake at 350 degrees. Watch the cake closely as cooking time varies greatly depending on pan size and oven. It will take anywhere from 35-55 minutes. Check with a toothpick. Frost with cream cheese frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting
16 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
6 Tbsp. butter, softened (not melted!)
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix until smooth. If frosting is too thick, add a little milk or cream.

Mom's Lasagna

My mom's lasagna is amazing! It is authentic and hearty, and the perfect winter dish. It tastes even better the second day, so plan to make it ahead. Also, since it makes a whopping 30 servings (you can also cut it in half), it's great for a crowd. It makes about 2 1/2 9x13 pans full.

Mom's Lasagna
4 lbs. ground beef
2 lbs. Jimmy Dean brand hot sausage
48 oz. tomato paste
8 cups water
6 Tbsp. parsley
salt and pepper
2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

Simmer for 3 hours. Meanwhile, cook enough lasagna noodles* for 3-4 layers. Drain pasta and set aside. In a large bowl, mix:
6 eggs
2 (48 oz.) containers cottage cheese
5 lbs. mozzarella cheese

Layer meat, lasagna noodles and cheese mixture. Repeat several times. Bake covered at 275 degrees for 2 hours. Refrigerate until cool and cut into equal pieces. Reheat lasagna, covered, at 350 degrees for 2 hours.

*Note: because the meat sauce is so thick, I prefer to pre-cook my lasagna noodles.

Caramelitos

Desiree introduced me to these several years ago and it was love at first bite! They are so so good. I'm a sucker for pretty much anything that has caramel, chocolate, oatmeal or a shortbread crust. I LOVE these! They are so easy to make and, stored in the refrigerator or freezer, they'll last for quite a while.

Caramelitos
1 1/4 cups butter, melted
2 1/4 cups oatmeal
2 cups flour
1 1 /2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Mix together and press 2/3 of the batter into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Pour 2 - 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips over baked portion. Mix together:

1 1/2 cups caramel (store-bought or homemade both work fine)
6 Tbsp. flour

Pour over the chocolate chips and baked portion. Sprinkle the remaining dough on top. Bake for another 15 - 20 minutes.